Our Team

Mike Bargman

Mike Bargman
Mike Bargman is HM’s co-founder & Managing Director. Mike served as an international communication consultant for 22 UN agencies operating worldwide. He also worked as an external media consultant for the Israel's Foreign Ministry, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit and the Ministry of Economy. In addition to Mike's role as managing director of Headline Media, he was the Director of Foreign Media for the Knesset Forum on International Relations, and a lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya’s LauderSchool of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy.

Jon Elkins

Jon Elkins
Prior to co-founding Headline Media, Jonathan Elkins covered Israeli business and politics during his 17 year television career. Elkins’ reports were featured on CNN International. He has interviewed top politicians across the globe including prime ministers, presidents, as well as Nobel laureates. Elkins served as a senior producer, anchorman and reporter at IBA News, Channel 1, Israel’s only English-language newscast. He was also Editor-in-Chief at Jerusalemonline.com, produced by Channel 2 News, Israel’s leading news source.

Daphne Algom

Daphne Algom
Daphne Algom, co-founder of Headline Media, is an award-winning investigative journalist who worked for American television networks for over a decade. Daphne was the assignment manager and producer for ABC News in its Middle Eastern Bureau, and was a producer at CNN’s international newsmagazine show, CNN&TIME in Atlanta, Georgia. Algom has won awards for her investigative pieces, and most recently, for her coverage of the Lebanon War for CNN in 2006.

Ethan Chernofsky

Ethan Chernofsky
Ethan joined Headline Media in early 2013 after beginning his career at Finn Partners. In 2015 Business Insider included him on their prestigous list of the best public relations people in tech. He received his BA from the IDC Herzeliya and MSc from the London School of Economics.

Aaron Kliner

Aaron Kliner
Aaron left his hometown of Glasgow to complete his BA in Politics and Parliamentary Studies from the University of Leeds. He lived and worked in London for 10 years before meeting his Israeli wife and moving to Israel in 2010. Aaron has extensive experience in communications and public relations from previous roles as chief of staff for a UK Member of Parliament, and marketing manager for an Israeli tech company. Aaron was also an account director for a London PR agency called the PR Office, where he worked with a wide range of political, public sector and tech clients.

Sarah Warshawsky

Sarah Warshawsky
Sarah hails from Austin, TX by way of Miami, Florida. Sarah moved to Israel in 2012 where her first year was consumed by Tel Aviv University’s MA in Political Science. Previous to joining the Headline Media team, Sarah worked for the Israeli Consulate to Florida and Puerto Rico as their Director of Political and Public Affairs. Despite her Austin upbringing she attended the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) completing a BA degree in International Relations focused on the Middle East.

Leora Katz

Leora Katz
Originally from the small town of East Brunswick, New Jersey, Leora moved to Israel in 2012 after completing a BA in Political Science and Economics and gaining experience in the field of communications at institutions such as the Consulate General of Israel in New York and the Council on Foreign Relations. Upon arrival, she earned an MA in Diplomacy and Conflict Studies at IDC Herzliya before joining the Headline Media team. In her spare time, Leora can be found sightseeing or curled up with a good book and a Snickers bar.

Hila Perl

Hila Perl
Hila Perl is an experienced news producer and writer who worked for top American and Israeli networks and publications. She was a producer at ABC News’ Middle East bureau in Israel, as well Israel’s Channel 1 and Court TV in New York. In 2004, Hila transitioned from news to reality, working as a field producer for ABC network. Hila is also an avid writer, with pieces published in the Jerusalem Post, Yedioth Ahronoth, and Maariv, including news items, magazine articles and a weekly food column published in New York.

Anna Dalton

Anna Dalton
Raised in Sydney Australia, Anna knows something about "All-Round Excellence" (as was awarded to her by the New South Wales Premier). Top of her class, team captain of her college's touch football team and activist for social justice, in between classes and practices Anna distributed food to the homeless and patrolled beaches protecting sea turtles. Anna brings diverse interests and a commitment to all-round excellence to Headline Media.

Jill Burkes

Jill Burkes
Jill hails from the streets of Toronto. A Public Relations and Communications graduate, Jill chose PR because she loves the art of conversation—she loves to listen as much as she loves to speak. Her experience in media relations, event management, and communication strategies stretch across the globe. Little known fact - Jill is a self-taught carpenter and her weapon of choice is a good power sander.

Josh Genuth

Josh Genuth
A long-ago immigrant to Israel originally from southern California, Josh earned his Communications and Media degree from the IDC Herzliya. His professional background includes multimedia content production, logistics in Israeli nonprofit, and international B2C relations. Josh is an insufferable defender of English grammar and enjoys “new-tech” fiddling, extreme urban cycling, and the wanton accumulation of general knowledge.

Ben Judah

Ben Judah
Ben was born and bred in sunny London and joined us with a background in marketing, having worked for blue-chip multinationals and family businesses alike. Ben is a passionate cook and martial artist and brings his focus, precision and composure to his work.

Joel Strauss

Joel Strauss
A proud New Jersey native and tech enthusiast, Joel brings communications, event planning and management skills honed in the political sphere. Prior to joining Headline Media, Joel earned his M.A. from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served as the Executive Director of a New York City based non-profit dedicated to non-partisan voter education and activism. Joel also worked as a ghost writer for several elected officials and public figures where he saw his words go from hypothetical to headline.

Jonathan Cohen

Jonathan Cohen
Born and raised in the suburbs of New Jersey, Jonathan moved to Israel in 2008. After completing his BA in Interactive Communications from the Interdisciplinary Center of Herzliya, he put his communications skills to work in a field that fascinates him- hi-tech. Simultaneously, Jonathan co-founded a young professionals networking group for gay men in Tel Aviv called Yeled Tov Tel Aviv. In his spare time, Jonathan loves listening to indie Middle Eastern music and following developments in UX design.

Harrison Wieder

Harrison Wieder
Hailing from the great state of New Jersey, Harrison took a leap of faith and flew to Israel after finishing his BS in Business Psychology at Pennsylvania State University (We Are!!), where he was heavily involved in their renowned philanthropic efforts. Prior to joining the team at Headline, Harrison was involved in an organization for social entrepreneurs at Penn State and worked at a Social Investment company in Tel-Aviv. In his spare time you can find him either hiking, at the beach, or eating hummus.

Julia Friedman

Julia Friedman
Imported all the way from the sunny shores of Cape Town, South Africa, Julia completed her B.Com Management Studies Degree at the University of Cape Town, before furthering her experience in the PR and marketing world in New York City. After temporarily exploring a career in the banking industry, Julia gravitated back to her true passions and interests in PR and communications.

Julian Bloch

Julian Bloch
Julian is a self-proclaimed entrepreneur and sports fanatic. In his spare time Julian runs an online retail business called Zigiii, which sells his environmentally friendly invention “pocket ashtrays”. He also comes to Headline with a professional background in sports marketing and corporate sponsorship. Julian arrived in Israel two years ago with a B.A. in International Affairs from North Eastern University in Boston.

Marissa Shapiro

Marissa Shapiro
Marissa is a New Yorker who interned at the White House and studied at the United Nations in Geneva. She also has worked for the Mayor of New Orleans and the CEO of the New Orleans Airport. In a pivot from politics she dabbled in the floral industry before joining Headline Media, making her the office’s most patriotic green thumb. When she isn’t working, Marissa enjoys ceramics classes and trying out new restaurants.

Brandon Weinstock

Brandon Weinstock
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Brandon moved to Israel in 2008 looking for some action. Leaving behind a successful 10-year career in commercial real estate, he decided to go back to college at the ripe young age of 32. After obtaining BA and MA degrees in Government studies from the IDC in Herzliya, Brandon went on to teach International Law at the IDC and was also a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. To stay sane, he practices yoga and meditates regularly.

Dana Hopfer

Dana Hopfer
Born and raised in San Francisco, Dana moved to Israel in 2008 after completing a BA in Communications. Driven by her passion for Israeli innovation, Dana spent a majority of her career in Israel working in international PR, with a focus on customizing international marketing strategies for Israeli technology companies. Due to her particular interest in global entrepreneurship and emerging startup companies, Dana is currently in San Francisco, heading up Headline Media’s west coast offices.

Margalit Benizri-Shweky

Margalit Benizri-Shweky
Margalit is truly the sum of her parts. She brings to Headline Media experience from the IDF where she served as a Course Commander in the Armory Corps, a B.A. in Business Administration with a major in marketing from the University of Manchester, and another degree in practical engineering with a major in marketing. Not to mention nearly a decade of work experience as a marketing manager- where her clients ranged from international shipping companies to industrial design studios. In her spare time Margalit is a post-partum doula.